Lifeboat-releasing device



March 27, 1928.

1,664 222 G. w. P. OVERMAN LIFEBOAT RELEAS ING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

March 27, 1928.

1,664,222 G. w. P. OVERMAN LIFEBOAT RELEASING DEVICE Filed Jag. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 claimed,

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

GEORGE W, I. OVERMAN, 013 NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

LIFEBOAT-BELEASING nnvrcn.

Application filed January 21, 1926.1 Serial Not. 82,704..

This invention relates to life boat releasing devices, and has for one of its ob ects the provision of a novel device of this character which shall comprise comparatively few parts and can be readily secured to a life boat and which can be easily operated to efiect the prompt and positive release of the life boat after it is afloat. 7

With the foregoing and other objects 111 view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the application of a life boatreleasing device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a units of the life boat releasing device,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the planes indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2, the hook of the unit being shown in active position,

Figure 4 is a similar View with the hook in inactive position, p I I v Figure 51s an inner edge view of one of the units of the device,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the.

planes indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a detail one of the latches of the device, and

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the hooks of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the the following description, and designated in the several views of the accompanying drawings, by similar reference characters.

To illustrate the application of the invention, there is shown in the drawings, the keel, bow and stern posts of a life boat which parts are designated respectively 1, 2 and 3.

The life boat releasing device embodies similar units of which one is secured to the bow post 2 and the other to the stern post 3. Each unit comprises a bracket casing 4 which is substantially U-shaped in plan and has its inner vertical edge closed and its outer vertical edge open, a hook 5 pivoted within the casing 4 by a bolt 6, and a latch 7 pivoted within the casing 4 by a. bolt 8. The casings 4 are secured at their open vertical edges to the bow post 2 and stern post 3 by rivets 9 or other suitable attaching elements.

The casings l extend inwardly from the bow parts.

' prevent any of the bow postperspective view of culiar formation of the .upon the release is instantaneous.

wardly beyond the shoulders 5 post 2 andstern post 3, and are so applied to these parts that the outer portions of their sides contact with opposite sides of said thickness of the bow post 2 and stern post 3, and the outer portions of said sides are drawn inwardly during the application of "the casings. In order to maintain those portions of the sides'of'the casings 4 that are locatedinwardly beyond the bow post 2 and stern post 3 in parallel relation, whereby to binding action on thehooks 5 and trigge'rs7, spacing sleeves 10 are positioned between the sides and secured in place by rivets .11 ing sleeves the elementsf9 in supporting thecasings 4:

I 7 The normal distance between the sides of the casings i is greater than the or similar elements. The spac- 10 contact with the inner edges I of the bow post 2 and stern post 3 and assist top plan view of one of the I The. casings 4; are also openat their upper and lower edges, and theho'oks 5leXtend through theupper edges of'the casings 4. YVh'en the hooks 5 are in' activefposition, their bills 5 'contact :with the inner edges 2 and stern'post 3' and said posts maintain the shackle pin or. fall hook 12 in engagement with the'hooks when the latter are in active position. The lower edges of the bills 5* are provided with arcuate portions 5 'and substantially straight portions 5, the latter being arranged in advance of or outwardly beyond the former. This pelower edges of the bills 5 'provide for a gradual release of the shackle pin or fall hookil2 until it reaches the straight portions of said edges wherelatches 7 have weighted lower ends, and their upper ends are adapted to contact with shoulders 5 on the hooks 5 to effect the holding of the hooks in active position. The latches 7 are under constant urge in the direction of their active position due to their weighted lower ends, and their movement in this direction, when the hooks 5 are in active position, is limited by lugs 5 depending from the lower ends of the books 5 out- The movement of the latches 7 in this direction, when the hooks 5 are in inactive position, is limited by the inner curved edges 5 of the hooks and the outer curved edges 7 of the latches. The curved edges 5 and 7 of these parts permit the hooks '5 to readily move into shackle pin or fall hook releasing position The downwardly through the lower open edges of the casings 4. The pulleys 15 are located within the casings 4 near the lower ends thereof and forwardly beyond the pivots 8,

and are supportedffor rotation preferably :by bolts 16. If desired, the chains 14 may be connected to a lever, not shown, situated near the stern of the boat so as to permit the simultaneous retraction of the latches 7.

' From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will beseen that the device may be readily secured to the bow and stern posts of a life boat, that the hooks'5 will be positively held in active position and will when t o in such: position cooperate with the bow and stern posts to. maintain their engagement with the shackle pins or fall hooks, that the latches may be readily retracted, and that .on the retraction of the latches the hooks will quickly move into shackle pin or fall hook releasing position. The latches "7 are completelyhoused by the casings 4, and-due theretothere is no possibility of their being accidentally retracted.

Itshould be understood that the drawings aremerely villustrative and do not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawings are illustratlveof a preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes andmodifications may be N made without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention. up

W'hat'is claimed is 1. A boat releasing device comprising a bracket member, a hook pivoted to the bracket member and provided at its upper end with an outwardly directed bill and at its lower end with a shoulder and a lug located outwardly of and extending below the shoulder, and a latch pivoted between its ends to the bracket member and having a weighted lower end adapted to hold its upper end in contact with the shoulder and lug.

2. A life boat releasing device comprising a bracket member, a hook pivoted bet-ween its ends to the bracket member, said hook being provided above its pivot with an outwardly directed bill and below its pivot with a shoulder and. a lug located outwardly of and extending below the shoulder, and a latch pivoted between its ends to the bracket member below the pivot the hook and provided with a weighted lower end adapted to'h'old its upper end in contact with the shoulder and lug.

3. A life boat releasing device comprising a bracketimember, a hook pivoted to the bracket member and provided at its upper end with an outwardly directed bill and at its lower end with a shoulder, and a latch pivoted between its ends to the bracket member and having a weighted lower end adapted to hold its upper end in contact with the shoulder, the pivot of the latchbeing located below and inwardly of the pivot of the hook and the inner edge of the hook and the outer edge of the latch being curved to permit the hook to move into releasing position when the latch is pulled outwardly.

4. A life boat releasing device comprising, in combination with the post of the boat, a

bracket casingopen at its outer, upper and lower edges and having the outer portions of its sides contacting with the sides of the post, attaching elements passing through the post and said outer side portions of the bracket casing, spacing elements positioned between the sides of'the bracket casing and contacting with the inner edge of. the post, a hook pivoted within the bracket casing, and a-latch pivoted within the bracket casing and adapted to maintain in the hook in active position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE WV. P. OVERMAN. 

